The Real Daughter Just Wants to Pilot Mechas - Chapter 136

“Special enlistment?”

The senior military officials beside the President began murmuring among themselves.

“A large-scale special enlistment would be hard to manage.”

“Even if we only sign them as auxiliary personnel, it’s still a massive cost. Direct enlistment could cause problems.”

“Sure, the situation is serious, but is it really that urgent?”

“Up until now, the military only recruited outstanding graduates from the year’s military academy class. Even training them is already difficult, what about civilians…”

The President raised a hand to stop their discussion. “The situation is unique. Let’s not overthink it. We’ll start with a pilot program at the military academies.”

“But… it’s only halfway through the semester. It’s not conscription season yet,” a marshal said.

The President responded directly, “Timing doesn’t matter. I already said it’s a special enlistment.”

“So you mean everyone in the military academies has the right to participate?” E Mingjun asked, seeing the senior officials falling into uneasy silence.

The President gave him an approving look. “Yes. As long as they’re enrolled, they can participate.”

The high-ranking officers were stunned. Discussions broke out instantly, only to be forcefully silenced again by the President. “In any case, the special enlistment is decided. The market release of low-level legendary mecha is also settled. As for the operational details, figure them out yourselves. I want results.”

With that, the President turned around. “Take these mecha with us. We’re going to run a field exercise.”

Scarface grabbed Jiang Momo’s sleeve in panic and then slowly let go under E Mingjun’s gaze. Gritting his teeth, he muttered in a low voice, “Leader, what now? We picked the strongest energy core for the high-level mecha. I doubt anyone in the military can even pilot them.”

“It’s fine.” Jiang Momo patted Scarface on the shoulder, signaled the researcher behind her to put the mecha into the special storage button and hand it to Lu Feng, then watched the whole group march off.

Jiang Momo had predicted from the start that the President wouldn’t bring the researchers along for the mecha test. That’s why, after Scarface and the others installed the energy cores into the mecha, she made further adjustments to ensure everything would go smoothly without them on-site.

After explaining her private preparations and sending the reluctant researchers back to the research lab, Jiang Momo returned to campus.

Before she received the urgent call from the military, she’d been in Ge Qing’s office. The court had just issued a subpoena that Ge Qing’s trial would begin tomorrow, so she came to help him prepare. The two were in the middle of saying their goodbyes. Though Ge Qing insisted he was fine, Jiang Momo could clearly see the nervous fear in him and that he needed someone by his side.

“Is everything okay? You ran out of here in such a rush.”

When Jiang Momo returned, Ge Qing was still at his desk. He didn’t even lift his head when he heard her come in.

“Nothing serious.” Jiang Momo sat across from him, noticed the dullness in his eyes, and poked him gently. “Turn on the military channel.”

Ge Qing’s eyes twitched slightly. He changed the channel and said in shock, “Wait, is that… the President on the front line fighting the alien beasts?! And that mecha… its shape looks like a B-grade mecha?”

Jiang Momo was a bit surprised. “You can tell?”

The livestream image had some quality loss, making everything a little distorted. Back when Lu Feng was streaming the legendary mecha, no one had realized it was a modified B-grade mecha.

“It’s obvious,” Ge Qing replied without blinking. “It seems the military is taking this event seriously. The equipment is so high-end, you can even see the fur on the alien beast’s chest from ten meters away.”

Jiang Momo had only glanced briefly at the livestream earlier because she wanted to see Ge Qing as soon as possible. Now, hearing this, she opened the stream again.

On-screen, a plain-looking mecha was charging at the front, chasing down an alien beast across the battlefield. Behind it trailed a formation of S-grade mecha, spaced out in a protective formation. The top right showed a split-screen of the President’s image and their field of view, while the lower left was filled with rapidly scrolling comments.

[What’s going on? This is the alien beast colony planet? Why does it look like there are hardly any alien beasts around?]

[You must’ve just tuned in. That’s a legendary mecha the President is piloting. The alien beasts die instantly if they get close, so it’s no wonder they stay away.]

[But it just looks like a B-grade mecha? I have one and it looks exactly the same.]

[Does yours perform like that? Please. Even an S-grade couldn’t pull off what that thing’s doing.]

The President could actually pilot the highest-level legendary mecha! Even though she had chosen the weakest energy core within the highest level range, it still wasn’t something just anyone could handle.

Jiang Momo blinked in disbelief as the President chased the alien beasts all over the place on-screen.

Her grading standard for the low-, mid-, and high-level was simple: the effect on the alien beasts. High-level caused a negative effect just by approaching an alien beast. Mid-level worked on direct contact, while low-level only had an effect when hitting an alien beast’s weak point.

“This mecha is incredible. Too bad by the time I’m out, the manufacturing method will probably be classified,” Ge Qing sighed, lifting his gaze from the screen and sneaking a glance at Jiang Momo.

Catching the look, Jiang Momo shut off her light brain and seriously explained, “It won’t be. The low-level ones will be released to the public. The manufacturing method should be disclosed too.”

“Low-level?” Ge Qing latched onto the keyword.

“Yes. We divided them into low, mid, and high levels based on performance. The one the President is piloting is high-level but not the top.”

Ge Qing looked dreamy. “And that’s not the top? Then what’s the top like?”

Jiang Momo answered matter-of-factly, “So powerful that it can drain someone dry just from proximity.”

Ge Qing went silent for a while and then changed the topic. The two chatted idly until dusk before reluctantly parting ways.

“Come to the trial tomorrow,” Ge Qing said, leaning in his office doorway.

Jiang Momo nodded. “I will.”

Then she turned and walked into the dark corridor.

***

Outside the teachers’ dormitory building, Jiang Momo ran into Yan Chang who had been waiting in the shadows.

They locked eyes. Yan Chang stood and quickly strode over.

“Master? How come you’re coming from that direction?” Yan Chang asked, puzzled. His eyes drifted to Jiang Momo’s bare wrist and then looked up with a wounded expression.

Jiang Momo looked at her own wrist and smiled. “I had urgent business today, so I left my light brain in the dorm.”

The light brain Yan Chang had gifted her was incredibly expensive. She figured it was better not to wear it when meeting the President.

“Oh,” Yan Chang replied gloomily. “I waited here five hours. You didn’t answer any messages or video calls. I thought you were sleeping.”

“Sorry, I had it on Do Not Disturb.” Jiang Momo scratched her face and then looked up to apologize, only to blurt out, “Did you get taller?!”

She remembered that she and Yan Chang used to be the same height. Now he was suddenly half a head taller?

Yan Chang proudly lifted his chin. His fiery red hair swayed triumphantly. “I did.”

“You got a height enhancement surgery?” Jiang Momo circled around him. “I thought you were past your growing years?”